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The Motion Demon

3.68  ·  Rating details ·  380 ratings  ·  42 reviews
Some type of gigantic, grey mass passes byan ashen, misty mass with cut-out windows from end to end. One can feel the gust of a satanic draught from these open holes, hear the flapping, maddeningly blown-about shutters; one can almost see the spectral faces of the passengers. . . .

A wandering train that appears, seemingly at will; an engine driver who is inseparable from
...more
Hardcover, limited to 500 copies, unnumbered, 122 pages
Published September 30th 2005 by Ash-Tree Press (first published 1919)
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Ignacio Senao f
May 18, 2017 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Desconocido autor Polaco que nos regala Valdemar con una traducción del original.

El libro lo divide en dos partes. La primera en la que todos los relatos tienen como núcleo un tren (extraña obsesión del autor) y la segunda donde se dispara su imaginación y terror.
Lo comparan con Poe, pero me da que este es un Poe Barker. Esa definición atraerá a muchos lectores de terror (por no decir todos) pero creo que es la más apropiada. Sus relatos son muy poéticos y bien escrito, pero en todos ellos hay
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Tijana
Nov 01, 2017 added it
Shelves: fantasy
Zbirka horor priča o vozovima i duhovima. Zanimljive ideje o opsednutosti kretanjem - beskonačno brzim, savršeno pravolinijskim itd, u krajnjoj liniji presudno je da bude apsolutno u nekom pogledu - sputane su lošim do osrednjim stilom opterećenim kitnjastošću. Dodatna muka je prevod koji deluje dosta kruto i na trenutke izrazito sumnjivo (ali iz predgovora je jasno da je prevodilac najveći obožavalac Grabinjskog i da je sve ovo čist ljubavni trud pa ne treba biti preoštar). Dve priče (Signals i ...more
Nancy Oakes
That whole "Polish Poe" thing isn't exactly correct. I prefer Grabinski to Poe by a mile -- much better writer.

more soon.
Rodrigo Tello
Sep 07, 2017 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Excéntrico, extraño, delirante, enfermizo y perverso... este hombre seguramente sea uno de los secretos mejor guardados (o más bien olvidados) de la literatura de terror europea, con ideas realmente ingeniosas. Excelente
Mary Slowik
Aug 20, 2015 rated it really liked it
Recommends it for: "Weird fiction" fans
The Polish Poe...

These aren't your grandpa's horror stories! Unless, you know, he happened to be Polish or a big reader of the literature fantastique. I'd been wanting to read this collection for a while now, ever since Thomas Ligotti mentioned the title in his discussion of pessimistic supernatural literature in The Conspiracy against the Human Race. As you might surmise from my rating, it didn't disappoint.

The stories collected here all center, uniquely enough, on the idea of rail travel.
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César Carranza
Apr 10, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Una colección de cuentos bastante interesante, viene en dos partes, en la primera todo gira alrededor de trenes, el primer cuento le da título al libro, en la segunda parte viene una selección de obras de este buen escritor. Todos los cuentos tienen un tono sobrenatural, se lee fácil, y como buen cuento se arman las estructuras y ambientes muy pronto, se construye fácilmente en la mente un escenario, los personajes, y empieza el desarrollo.

Muy bueno, sin duda leería más de él.
Oscar
El demonio del movimiento y otros relatos de la zona oscura (Valdemar, 2017), del escritor polaco Stefan Grabinski, recoge diecisiete cuentos divididos en dos bloques. En el primero, nos encontramos con los nueve relatos que componen el original Demon ruchu (1919), y en el segundo, ocho obras extraídas de diversos volúmenes.

Los cuentos del primer bloque, que son los que más me han interesado, están ambientados en el mundo del ferrocarril, con trenes, maquinistas, revisores, pasajeros, donde se
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Borja Vargas
Dec 12, 2018 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Grabinski resulta ser uno de los maestros ocultos del relato de terror. Su obra no es una simple curiosidad, una nota exótica a pie de página; no: es intensamente personal y nada tiene que envidiar a autores tan reconocidos como Hodgson, Machen o Blackwood. Las referencias no son casuales, imagino una ucronía de la historia de la literatura: qué habría pasado si Lovecraft hubiera conocido los cuentos de Grabinski? Sin duda habría recibido un puesto de honor en su canon de horror cósmico y le ...more
Vicente Ribes
Jul 21, 2017 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: terror-y-gótica
Great collection of stories. Stephan Grabinski has been a hidden secret for years but now horror lovers are lucky with the translation of his works released in English and reaching an international audience. These are weird tales that deal with the subject of train travels. All of them are very original, don't expect blood and gore, what Grabinski builds is an impressive atmosphere, which in my personal opinion is similar to Poe's works.
I particularly loved "Signals" and " The siding".
Fabulantes
Jun 07, 2018 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: terror
Reseña: https://www.fabulantes.com/2018/06/el...
"La mera existencia del ferrocarril supone una vulneración, pero también el establecimiento de un nuevo orden, con sus horarios, su puntualidad y sus flamantes reglas. Es una forma de tentar a la cordura, con su monotonía y sus repeticiones ritualistas. Los protagonistas de estos cuentos, desde su exasperación o su simple abnegación, enloquecen ante su contacto. Algunos, como el ferroviario de El Embadurnado, lo veneran como una Deidad implacable,
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Oğuz Kayra
Trenlerde, demiryollarında ve raylarda geçen öyküler. Grabinski'nin hayatını okumak, benim için öykülerinden çok daha benzersiz bir tecrübe olabilirdi.

Öyküleri iyi, fakat olayın belli yerlerde geçmesi bazı öykülerin sonunu tahmin etme ihtimalini yükseltiyor. Keyifli ve iyi fakat çoğunlukla aynı.
Konserve Ruhlar
Mar 03, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Demiryolu hikayelerinden oluşan Hareket İblisi, Stefan Grabińskinin Türkçeye çevrilen tek kitabı. Osman Fırat Başın Lehçeden başarılı çevirisiyle Okuyan Us Yayınevinin Ex-Libris dizisinde basılmış. İthaki Yayınlarından da çıkmış. Demiryolu, tren istasyonu ve trenlerin içinde geçen gizemli, mistik, ürperten on üç öyküden oluşuyor kitap. Birbirinden ilginç karakterler var öykülerde. Trenle yolculuk yapmayı alışılmadık tarzda seven yolcular, sadece hareketle yaşam enerjisi bulanlar, vagonda aniden ...more
Rafał
Apr 09, 2013 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: owned
Czytanie tej książki zajęło mi więcej czasu niż chyba powinno bo rozłożyłem ją sobie na dwa podejścia. Niestety wiele treści w Demonie Ruchu zestarzało się, a do tego język i sposób prowadzenia narracji jest dosyć męczący. Często zbyt krótkie opowiadania kończą się zupełnie bez mocnej puenty w czym przypominają raczej ogniskową gawędę, gazetowe doniesienie lub wstęp do nigdy nie napisanej powieści. Ale odłożywszy to wszystko na bok, ta książka to niesamowity dowód ogromnej wyobraźni autora. ...more
Adrian Płotka
8/10
Gdy pierwszy raz usłyszałem o Stefanie Grabińskim, nie mogłem uwierzyć, że kraj nad Wisłą tak wcześnie wydał na świat pisarza grozy piszącego na kilka lat przed największymi dziełami Lovecrafta. "Demon ruchu" to pierwszy zbiór opowiadań Grabińskiego, sześć opowieści oscylujących wokół tematyki kolejowej, z których pozostaje najbardziej znany.

Styl Grabińskiego to połączenie realistycznego opisu pracy na kolei z nieźle (jak na formę kilkustronnicowych dzieł) pogłębioną psychologią postaci oraz
...more
HM Barcenas
VI. EL DEMONIO DEL MOVIMIENTO (1919)
Stefan Grabiński

* * *

Ídolo frenético del condicionamiento material o psíquico que obsesiona, ultraja o subleva con sus excesos el rutinario sino de los hombres, el polaco Stefan Grabiński es el autor más extraño, caprichoso y desquiciado que la editorial Valdemar pudo arrebatarle al siempre brutal y vil umbral del olvido.

Recopilación formada por su reconocida colección de relatos entorno al riguroso mundo ferroviario, su concepto del viaje y sus alucinantes
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Carlos Santiago
Se le nota mucho el parecido con Poe y versiones poco desarrolladas de cosas que otros autores, como Lovecraft, perfeccionarían. Crea una especie de metaverso lleno de trenes con momentos muy buenos y alguno aparte con todo tipo de horrores insondables, demoniacos y vampíricos. pero, al final del día, todo se me hace repetitivo y el estilo es aburrido durante demasiado tiempo como para que no llegues a la parte interesante del relato hastiado de tedio. Una pena. Me quedo con El Embadurnado y El ...more
J.j. Metsavana
Feb 06, 2017 rated it really liked it
Poola Poe'ks või Lovecraftiks nimetatud (minuarust ilma erilise põhjuseta, liiga erinev stiil neist kummastki) autori õuduskogumik. Täpsemalt siis 9 erinevat lugu mis seotud rongide ja hullumeelsusega. Pooled jutud pole seejuures isegi otseselt ulmelood vaid pigem lood erinevatest hullumeelsuse vormidest, mis keerlevad ümber rongide. Mulle meeldis väga see kuidas Grabiński on suutnud ääretult igapäevased asjad nagu rongid, sedavõrd hämarateks, salapärasteks ja deemonlikeks asjadeks kirjutada. ...more
Dagomir
Sep 27, 2012 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
If you're into horror stories and you've always had a soft spot for trains, "Demon ruchu" is a must. Haunted stations, other-worldly trains, mind-altering cars and spooky passegers is what you will get if you pick up this one. Railway will never be the same for you again :)
Artur Coelho
Aug 15, 2014 rated it liked it
Há uma intrigante mistura de classicismo e modernidade nestes contos de Stefan Grabinski. O oculto, o sobrenatural, o irreal e o estranho coexistem com a modernidade da velocidade e da tecnologia. O combóio é o fio condutor destes contos, onde a ferrovia é envolta numa atmosfera exacerbada de profunda estranheza. Os personagens são meras peças destinada a cumprir o fio narrativo, como peões nas mãos de um xadrezista determinado. A prosa é pesada, sem floreados, e apesar de serem histórias curas ...more
David
Sep 28, 2019 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the railwayman was saying, in recent times puzzling occurrences have been happening more frequently in the train world. All this seems to have its own purpose, its clearly heading towards something irrevocable. -The Siding

....madness with panache... best sums up this inter-locking series of psychological and fantastical railway stories, some previously collected in The Dark Domain. However, in translation, as with any non-native tongue, the Polish names I find breaking
...more
Entropia
Nov 15, 2018 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: polish
I heard the author being described as polish Poe and Lovecraft and after being bit disappointed with Lovecraft I decided to pick something up from Grabiński's works. My choice was The Motion Demon - compilation of horror stories revolving around railway. Trains are always nice after all and I haven't seen them being used in horror enough.
Sadly aforementioned comparisons are exaggerated. Albeit quite imaginative, author often fails to close his stories in effective manner and many of them feel
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LucianTaylor
May 15, 2019 rated it really liked it
The guy is a horror master to the level of Machen, Blackwood, Ligotti, Lovecraft, Hodgson or Lumley. Also it's incredible how you can generate such fantastic worlds around trains and train stations. Also filled with demonic encounters, specially the first one that makes you think about demonic possessions and how you could be passing by on the street (or in this case a train wagon) close to a possessed body without even knowing it. The concept gives you the chills.
Maciej
Nov 28, 2017 rated it it was ok  ·  review of another edition
Trudno nie podziwiać fascynacji autora koleją, jednak na dłuższą metę jego archaiczny sposób pisania jest męczący, a opowiadania które miały chyba w zamierzeniu wzbudzać w czytelniku poczucie grozy są emocjonalnie obojętne.
Swoja drogą, gdyby pociągi rozbijały się tak często jak robiły to w opowiadaniach autora, to pewnie jeździli by w nich tylko maszyniści i węgiel.
Tomasz
Dec 09, 2019 rated it it was ok
Cała twórczość Grabińskiego z punktu widzenia współczesnego czytelnika jest jakaś taka naiwna i przeterminowana... Brak mu wizjonerstwa Verne'a, przeczytanie kilku opowiadań pokazuje całe spektrum pomysłów autora jakie możemy spotkać w kolejnych dziełach. Czuję spory niedosyt, gdyż po recenzjach spodziewałem się czegoś zdecydowanie ciekawszego...
Galicius
All of these stories involve old time steam driven trains, train travel, travelers. There is either fantasy, supernatural, the fourth dimension or possibly madness, any of these involved in each. The most commended "Steam Demon" did not appeal to me. But to be fair to those who gave this collection four stars, there are elements of poetry, horror, religion and spirituality even, that may appeal to some. There is some Edgar Allan Poe in these stories, as if the author read much of Poe. ...more
Tugba Yilmaz
Mar 05, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Trenler, demiryolcularla ilgili farklı ürpertici efsanelerden hikayelerden oluşan çarpıcı bir kitap
Onur Yalçın
Apr 14, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
İçinde hem korku öyküleri hem de trenler var. Daha ne isteyebilirim ki?
Olga
Oct 09, 2018 rated it did not like it  ·  review of another edition
52/#52książki2018
Tolga Keleş
Apr 17, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Kendine özgü çok güzel hikayelerden oluşuyor. Zevkle okudum.
Lukasz Oklesinski
Feb 12, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
The book you have to read. You can find a lot of inspiration for i.e. Stephen King in it ;).
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Stefan Grabiński (February 26, 1887 - November 12, 1936) was a Polish writer of horror fiction, sometimes called "the Polish Poe".

Grabiński worked as teacher in Lwów and Przemyśl and is famous for his train stories collected in Demon ruchu (The Motion Demon). A number of stories were translated by Miroslaw Lipinski into English and published as The Dark Domain. In addition, some of his work has
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